Adjustable hopper and trough feeding device for fowls.



J. E. THOMPSONE ADJUSTABLE HOPPER AND TROUGH FEEDING DEVICE FOR FOWLS.

APPLICAHON FILED SEPT-4. m4.

1,149,477 V Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

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J. E. THOMPSON.

ADJUSTABLE HOPPER AND TROUGH FEEDING DEVICE FOR FOWLS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4. 19M.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

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JAMES E. THOMPSON, or OAKSVIIIJLE, NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug.10, 1915.

Application filed. September 4,1914. Serial No. 860,203.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMns E. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Oaksville, in the county of Otsego and State of New York, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Hopper and Trough Feeding Devices for Fowls, of which the following is a description, reference being made to the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which I have set forth two forms of my invention.

My invention relates to adjustable hopper and trough feeding devices for fowls in which is provided a multi-compartment hopper feeding into a multi-compartment trough and in which the feeding is regulated by the relative adjustment of the hopper casingwith respect to the rest of the device, and the object of my invention is to produce a practical and economical arrangement of parts so that the device may be suspended at an elevation above the ground and filled and adjusted without interference with the suspension of the device and may be used also on the ground.

In the drawingsFigure 1 is a side elevation of a feeding device showing one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same device, the hopper casing being shown adjusted to a higher position than that in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same device, some interior parts being shown in elevation for purpose of better illustration; Fig. 1 is a plan view of the same device; the hopper casing being omitted; Fig. 5 is a detail view of a part of the adjusting means used in this form of the invention to regulate the relation between the hopper casing and the rest of the device. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a second form of my invention; Fig. 7 is an elevation of the same device; and Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the same device.

Referring first to the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings,1 is a multi-compartment hopper casing having ears 2 through which is passed a cover hinge pin 3 having looped ends 4 through which are passed the ends 5 of a supporting bail handle 6 for use in carrying the device from one place to another. A

X two-part cover 7 is mounted on the hinge pin 3, one or both of the parts of the cover having a space 8 between the hinge parts through which space 8 a suspending cord or string 9 is passed, the string or cord being .the device and the ground or other fowl support. The lower-end of the cord or string 9 is secured to an eye 12 secured to the top of a conical center piece 13 which is fastened to the base 11 of a feeding trough comprising also a circumferential border 14 sur- .mounted by a horizontal inwardly projecting guard flange 15. Radial partitions 21 secured to the conical center piece 13 by a flange 13 to the circumferential border 14 by a flange 13, and also if desired to the base 14: by a flange l8", divide the receptacle into the desired number of compartments, and serve as guides for the hopper casing 1 in its up and down movement. On the outside of the hopper casing 1 is secured a corrugated strip 16, the corrugations running preferably slightly bias to the transverse axis of the strip so that the outcurve of the strip form holes or pockets 17 adjacent to the hopper casing, which holes are adapted to receive the slightly-downwardly turned end 18 of a vertical rod 19 secured at 20 to the base 11 of thefeeding trough, the bias direction of the holes or pockets 17 preventing the accidental withdrawal of the end 18,. which, by insertion in one or the other of the holes or pockets 17, causes the hopper casing l to be held after it is advanced or retracted with respect to the feeding trough and thereby permits a varied amount of feed to be dispensed or put at the disposal of the feeders at one time, or the other.

It will be observed that the device may be raised or lowered to avoid the inroads of vermin, may be filled or adjusted without disturbing the height to which it has been set from the ground, may be swayed, jarred or tipped without allowing the feed to spill, and may be instantly disconnected for cleaning or removed entire for a change of location.

Referring to Figs. 6 to 8 in which is shown the second form of my invention, the multi-compartment hopper casing 1, provided with ears 2, bail handle 6, suspending cord or string 9, adjusting means 10 and overhead support 11, is made with a conical top 22, having an opening 23 therein, closed by a sliding cover 2st, limited by stops 25, the

cover 24 being pivoted on a central adjusting screw 26 and retained in position on the top 22 by a guide flange 27 projecting upwardly and inwardly at its outer edge from the base of the conical top 22. The suspending cord or string9 is secured to the eye 28 at the top of the adjusting screw 26, which screw passes down through the top 22 and a brace 29, into a threaded guiding sleeve or socket 30 mounted or formed in the top of the conical part 18. When it'is desired to close off the supply of feed entirely, the multi-compartment hopper casing 1 is lowered until it contacts with the base 1%, the vertical slots 31 being provided in the radial partitions 21 for that purpose.

When desiring to fill the hoppers in the first form of my invention the cover over the compartment desired to be filled is raised and immediate access had to the compartment without disturbing any of the ad justments of the device. hen desiring to fill the hoppers in the second form of my invention the hopper casing 1 is revolved until the cover 24c is above the proper compreferably able to be turned up against the 35 bottom of the feeding trough as shown, are used, the device either being stood on them on the surface of the ground or the legs being pushed a distance into the ground, for the purpose of steadying the device.

Having thus described my invention the following is what I claim as new therein and desireto secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination of the base having a feeding trough comprising a circumferential border, a conical centerpiece, radial partitions formed with vertical slots and an adjustable hopper casing, guided up and down by the vertical edges of the partitions and having its lower edge adapted to enter the 50 vertical slots and seat on the base so as to close off the supply of feed.

The combination of the base having a feeding trough comprising a circumferential border, a conical center piece, radial partitions secured to the conical center piece, an adjustable hopper casing guided in its vertical movement by the radial partitions and adjusting means between the adjustable hopper casing and the base for adjusting their position relative each to the other, consisting of a corrugated strip and a vertical rod having a turned end adapted to enter the corrugations.

JAS. E. THOMPSON. Witnesses: JAMES J. BYARD, Sn, CHESTER J. WINsLow.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

